Lamp construction for airplanes



Jan s, 1931. s. w. HYATT 1,787,823

LAMP consmucnon Fox murmurs Filed July 26 1929 I N VEN TOR. .Sam/a nf. Hrnr.'

A TTORNEY Patented Jain. i 6, 1,931

SAMUELl w. HYATT, or coNNEnsvILLE,

PATENT OFFICE INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T INDIANA LAMP' CORPORATIQN, 0F CONNERSVILLE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION 0F INDIANA LAMP CONSTRUCTION FOR AIRPLAN ES Application med Iuly 26,

The principal object of the invention is to provide a lamp so positioned vthat the beam may be directed downward, forward or up# ward as desired and which may be positioned within the wing or fuselage of the plane when in flying position. I.

The principal feature of the invention consists in the mounting and control means.

for accomplishing the before-mentioned object. f

Other features of the invention reside in the specic form of the lamp construction herein disclosed.

In the formof the invention herein disclosed, a lam construction is hinged to the upper side o an airplane wing. In iying position the lamp is folded Within the. wing `in a position to oder theV least possible airresistance. The upper surface of the lamp casing then forms substantially a continuation kof the curvature of the wing surface. In this position the beam of the lamp is directed downward through an aperture in the wing and is adapted to illuminate the ground or other objects beneath the plane. For use in landing, the lamp is tilted upward about its hinge until the beam is directed forward over the top of thewing. By further tilting, the lamp may be directed upward to illuminate air craft flying above the plane. The last-mentioned feature is particularly important in warfare wherein night aircraft combat may be expected in the future.

Gther objects and features of the invention and the full nature thereof will be fully understood from the accompanying drawings and the following descriptions and claims:

Fig. l is a sectional view of an airplane wing showing a lamp in its normal flying position with the beam directed downward an showing in dotted lines the position of the lamp when the beam is directed upward.

l Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the lamp 1929. serial m. 381,124.

positioned for landing. Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing the form of aperture and the -shape ofthe lamp casing. 4 Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a preferred form of lamp construction.

A wing covering 10 is carried upon suitable frame work members not shown in the drawings. An aperture 11, preferably rectangular in shape, is providedextending vertically from the` upper to the lower surface of the wing, and is surrounded by walls 12. The lower end of the aperture'll is closed by a suitable transparent plate of glass or similar material 13. A lamp casing 14 is hinged at 15 to the framework of the wing at a point adjacent the upperedge of the aperture. The casing 14 is provided with a shoulder 16 adapted to seat upon a ledge 17 at the upper end of the walls 12 of the aperture. Pivotally supported upon a bracket member 18 carried u on one of the walls 12 is a triple-armed ell crank 19 having one of its arms 20 extending through anopening in the adjacent wall 12. A link 21 is-pivotally attached to the outer end of the bell crank arm 20 and is Pivotally attached at its opposite end to a projecting member 22 xedly carried by the lamp casing 14. Control wires 23 are attached to the remaining arms of the bell crank 19 and are trained about pulleys 24 supported within-the rearward end of the wing.` The wires 23 lead to suitable control levers in. the cockpit or cabin of the airplane and may be manually operated by the pilot to raise or lower lco sov

the lamp casing 14 to any of 'the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2. By a suitable choice of the dimensions of the bell crank arm V20 v and the member 22 the lamp may be positioned to direct the Vbeam at an even greater angle to the horizontal than that shown inV dotted line in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 4 are shown the details of a preferred form of lamp construction wherein the casing 14 is provided with inturned flange portions25 adapted to contact with the outer edge of a reflector member 26. The reflector 26 carries a lamp socket 27 in turn supporting a lamp bulb 28. A suitable lens 29 is provided having a central portion 30 curved in the manner shown inFig. 4 and having a conlcal portlon 31 and an outer flange 32. The ange 32 is herein` shownl surrounded by a suitable gasket 33 in turn contacting w1th a portion of the reflector member 26and with a shield member 34. The shield member 34 has an outer ange 35 contacting with the outer flange of the reflector member 26. Screws 36 extend through suitable openings in the outer flange 35 and the reector member 26 and threadedly engage the inturned iiange of the casing 14. IBy this means the entire lamp construction is suitably plamEed together, A gasket 38 is provided u on t e ledge 17 to form a cushion for the amp construction when in the retracted position. Suitable electric conductors 10 supply current to the lamp 'from any desirable source.

Because of the large size of lamp bulb required for the purpose of the present invention, and because of the limited space. available, it is not possible to use the ordinary type of flat head lamp lens in order to provide 'a non-diverging beam of light.' For that reason a spill light shield 37 is provided to cut off diverging rays from the outer edge of the li ht beam. In the present instance i the shiel '37 forms a part of the shield memmoving said lamp about its pivotal ber 34A previously mentioned.

The invention .claimed is:

1. In combination with an ariplane, a.

lam construction :pivotally carried within a wlng thereof adjacent its upper surface, said wing having an aperture beneath said lamp construction through which a beam of light may be directed for downward illumination, and control means for moving said lamp construction about its pivotal mounting for forward and upward illumination. 2. In combinationv with an airplane, a lamp construction ivotally carried within a wing thereof, .s ai wing havingV an aperture beneath `said ,lamp and an aperture above said lamp and said lamp being normally positioned to project its beam through.

said lower aperture, and'control-menns foi cunting through said upper aperture for for-- ward and u ward-illumination.

3. In com ination with an' airplane, a

lam construction pivotally carried within a wlng thereof, said Awing hav-ing .anaperture beneath said lamp and an' apertur above said lamp and said lamp beinglnormally positioned to project its beam through SAMUEL W. HYATT.`

said Alower aperture and having its casing l forming a closure for said upper aperture,

and control means 'for moving said lamp about its pivotal mountin through said upper aperture for forwar and upward il. lumination.

4. In combination with an airplane, a lamp construction pivotally carried within a wing thereof, said wing having. an aperture 

